The 10 best songs about America - JUST MUSIC
Patriotism is visible in various forms. Not just waving a flag or putting one's hand over the heart, but through protest to try to bring about change and fight for the rights bestowed upon us as American citizens. Music has touched on all that. Some of the most "American" songs are the ones that take a shot at our great land because that's our right. Here are some of the best songs encapsulating what being an American is about or why our country is worth celebrating.
"This Land is Your Land" by Woody Guthrie (1945)
Guthrie's classic is considered by many to be the greatest folk song of all time. It was his disapproving response to Irving Berlin's "God Bless America." Through his travels across the country, Guthrie had his take on the state of America during those times and maybe it was a land that not everybody loved or not everything we were promised was seen through. Bruce Springsteen's live version from 1985 is among the best covers of this legendary track.
"California Dreamin'" by The Mamas and the Papas (1965)
Not all songs about America have to be about the country as a whole; they can simply celebrate a certain region, state, or town. When the weather is cold back East, it's the right time to long for that warm California sun. That's what The Mamas and the Papas told us. (Barry McGuire actually recorded the song first.) And they made Los Angeles and Southern California seem like the next best thing to heaven.
"The Times They Are a-Changin'" by Bob Dylan (1964)
This is Dylan's call, challenging the status quo and asking that there be change at a time when the civil rights and peace movements could be intertwined. Regarded as the quintessential "protest" song, it was a trendsetter in many ways for musical artists to use their platforms to get a point across and not be afraid to voice an opinion about a country that is far from perfect.
“Abraham, Martin, and John" by Dion (1968)
A tribute to the lives of assassinated public U.S. figures Abraham Lincoln, Martin Luther King, and John F. Kennedy plus Kennedy's brother, Bobby. Written by songwriter Dıck Holler and first recorded brilliantly by Dion (as in Dion and the Belmonts), the song is a way to honor these fallen leaders while pointing out the work being done for social change in America should not die.
"America" by Simon & Garfunkel (1968)
One of the duo's most memorable works is a tale about a couple hitchhiking across the country. They are trying to find a certain sense of freedom in the land of the free. The subtly and pace of the track make it one that can easily be heard while riding in the backseat of a car and looking out the window on a journey toward self-discovery.
"The Star-Spangled Banner" by Jimi Hendrix (1969)
Woodstock was a celebration of Peace, Love, and Music and might be the defining American music moment of all time. When Hendrix and his band finally hit the stage on Monday morning, well after they were slated to close the festival Sunday night, the highlight of his set was that amazing, legendary version of the national anthem. It was simple yet completely compelling.
“American Pie" by Don McLean (1971)
Clocking in at roughly eight-and-a-half minutes in its full version, McLean's masterpiece is kind of like a motion picture of music. One of the most popular songs ever written is basically about the loss of American innocence after the plane crash that killed rock icons Buddy Holly, Ritchie Valens, and The Big Bopper. While not patriotic or controversial, it just seems to epitomize life in America, the highs and lows, and everything in between.
"Man in Black" by Johnny Cash (1971)
Arguably the legend's most personal song and anti-establishment song. As Americans, we have the right to question how things are done. Cash aims at the treatment of the poor throughout the country, the prison system, and even the Vietnam War. If anybody wants to know why Cash favored the color black, give a listen.
"Take Me Home, Country Roads" by John Denver (1971)
Denver's signature tune is also among the state songs of West Virginia. However, as legend has it, co-writer Bill Danoff, a Massachusetts native, came up with the idea while driving along a rural road not in West Virginia. He actually had never been to the state, but the words West Virginia fit the song. Still, it's about the images and feelings of venturing through some beautiful country. Is there anything more American than that?
